Conformal fluid data sensor
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsJeffrey N. Schoess, Mark D. Simons
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gaseous fluid data sensor assembly for acquiring data regarding the ambient environment adjacent a surface of an airframe with adjacent air speeds below 40 knots (or another aerodynamic structure with low speed gaseous fluid flow adjacent thereto) having a flexible substrate adhesively conforming to the airframe surface, a conformable cover layer and a relatively thin air data sensor for sensing air pressure between the substrate and the cover layer. The assembly also includes a fiber optic communication link, a battery, a data acquisition subsystem, and a flexible printed circuit, all between the substrate and the cover layer. The cover layer is formed of a polymer film.
Claims21
A conformable air data sensor assembly for sensing a low airspeed parameter comprising:
- a. a flexible substrate;
- b. a conformable cover layer;
- and
- c. a thin air data sensor located between the flexible substrate and the conformable cover layer forming an assembly for sensing a low airspeed parameter adjacent the conformable cover layer when the assembly is conformably secured to a surface of an airborne vehicle.
An air data sensor assembly comprising:
- a. an array of air data sensors located in the assembly mounted on an aerodynamic surface for detection of surface dynamic pressure associated with airspeeds below about 40 knots;
- b. a protective cover layer formed of a polymer material;
- c. a data acquisition circuit located in the assembly;
- and
- d. a flexible substrate forming an interconnection path between the data acquisition circuit and each of the air data sensors in the array wherein at least the array of air data sensors and data acquisition circuit are mounted on the protective cover layer.
A method of sensing ambient air data adjacent an airborne vehicle comprising the steps of:
- a. forming a conformable air data sensor assembly having at least one thin air data sensor located between a conformable cover layer and a flexible substrate with an adhesive located on an exterior surface of the flexible substrate, where the cover layer has at least one aperture therein and the assembly has an output for providing a signal representative of air data;
- b. adhering and conforming the sensor assembly to a surface of an aeronautical vehicle using the adhesive on the flexible substrate and connecting the output of the assembly to an air data computation apparatus;
- and
- c. monitoring the output of the air data sensor assembly for the signal representative of air data associated with the ambient air conditions adjacent the aperture without substantial interference with the airflow characteristics of the surface on which the assembly is attached.
A conformable sensor assembly comprising sensors for sensing gaseous fluid pressures from zero to very high dynamic levels comprising:
- a. a flexible substrate;
- b. a conformable cover layer;
- and
- c. a thin gaseous fluid sensor located between the flexible substrate and the conformable cover layer forming an assembly for sensing at least one gaseous fluid parameter adjacent the conformable cover layer when the assembly is conformably secured to a surface adjacent the gaseous fluid flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.